Coleman signs on to Freedom to Marry

Mayor Michael B. Coleman has endorsed two groups seeking freedom to marry for same-sex couples
several weeks after saying he was reviewing his position on the issue. Yesterday
afternoon, he signed on with a national group, Mayors for Freedom to Marry, and a statewide
one, Ohio Leaders for Freedom to Marry.

Coleman met with local gay community leaders, including former City Councilwoman Mary
Jo Hudson and Equality Ohio President Ed Mullen at City Hall yesterday to discuss the issue.
At the end of the meeting, Coleman told them he was on board, said Dan Williamson, Coleman's
spokesman.

"One of the things that pushed the mayor over the top on this issue was a meeting he had with a
city employee, a veteran who came back," Williamson said. "He told the mayor he's now openly gay,
but he had to hide things from his fellow soldiers," while the don't-ask-don't-tell policy was in
effect. "He said he was overseas fighting for everybody's rights but his own."

Last month, Coleman's name briefly appeared on Mayors for Freedom to Marry's list. But at the
time, Coleman said his position had not changed from the one he took in 2004 when he ran for
governor: That he supported civil unions with rights similar to marriage for gay couples. The group
took his name off the list. Since then, local gay rights activists have been calling for the mayor
to change his position.

Williamson said Coleman didn't sign on to the mayor's group during the National Conference of
Mayors because he didn't know the people who were asking him to join. He wanted to talk to local
people before making his decision, Williamson said.